Leaders call on Pasadena to redouble efforts on climate goals

WILDFIRES

Pasadena 100 Coalition Chair Cynthia Cannady, center, speaks during a Wednesday news conference at First AME Church Pasadena. The Rev. Dr. Larry E. Campbell, pastor of First AME Church Pasadena, left, and Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous lend support. The group wants the city to reach its renewable energy goals. Ryan Carter — staff

Geothermal power could soon provide Pasadena with a quarter of its retail energy needs thanks to an up to 12 million power sale agreement with Calpine Geysers, LLC. Courtesy of Pasadena Water and Power

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By Ryan Carter

rcarter@scng.com

A coalition of environmental, faith and neighborhood leaders on Wednesday called on the city of Pasadena to ramp up its efforts to achieve its ambitious renewable energy goals, saying that as the area builds back in the wake of the Eaton fire, now’s the time to “harden” homes and infrastructure with sustainable materials and power.

The group — including the Pasadena 100 Coalition, the Sierra Club, local clergy, activists and residents — gathered at First AME Church Pasadena, where Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous exhorted stakeholders to redouble efforts to make sure the city sticks to its goal: 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030.

“This is a pivotal moment for Pasadena to show real leadership,” said Jealous, in a news conference in the church’s sanctuary, where about 50 people packed the pews. “Critical moments require bold leadership. In setting the goal of 100% clean energy, the City Council made its priorities clear. Now is the time when they fulfill that promise and show their intentions to truly be a leader in California and the country.”

City officials declined to comment.

Environmental leaders signaled a vision for how alternate forms of energy — rather than fossil fuel — could play into rebuilding in the area, which suffered crippling losses because of the fire.

More than 9,000 structures were destroyed, mostly homes, but also business, churches and schools. While Pasadena was not hit as hard, compared to neiighboring Altadena, the destruction was huge in areas closer to the foothills.

On Wednesday, early signs of a vision for rebuilding emerged among members of the environmental community. That vision includes how solar energy, battery storage, demand reduction technology and other programs can be part of how the area uses power in the years to come, once it fully recovers. Induction stoves.

Jealous and others in the room noted that investments in the hardening of rebuilt, fossil-fuel-free homes now will pay off down the line.

“This is the time to be thinking about it,” he said. “When you have that old gas water heater, and you want to change it to electrical in hour house, you’ve got to put in a new circuit and all that. But when you build from the bottom up, you can build it all the way. At the point of new construction, the price is often marginal, and the longterm savings is very real.”

Leaders put the moment in broader terms, noting that with so much happening at once, and with so much speed, that the idea of building in less dependence on fossil fuels might get lost.

Leaders used the day to celebrate the second anniversary, today, of when the Pasadena City Council unanimously established the city’s 100% carbon-free electricity mandate, but advocates warn that more must be done in to successfully implement the goal.

In January 2023, the council passed resolutions declaring a climate emergency and setting a policy goal of sourcing 100% of its electricity from carbon-free sources by the end of 2030, setting the parameters for Pasadena Water & Power plan that was being developed above those of state and federal regulations.

At the time, the plan called for Pasadena, which got 8% of its power from the sun, to source between 57% to 70% of its energy needs from solar power by 2030. Another roughly 15% would be sourced from geothermal power. However it requires the assumption that a minimum of 400 MW of commercial solar power and 400 MW of commercial storage capability will be created by 2030.

“Pasadena 100, made up of 22 different nonprofit organizations and more than 700 individuals, has a single mission: Make Pasadena Water and Power stop burning fossil fuels,” said Cythina Cannady, Chairperson of the Pasadena 100 Coalition, who spoke on Wednesday. “Our work to curb climate change starts right here in Pasadena. We are proud that the City set the 100% goal in 2023; now we have to achieve it.”

Advocates said since passing the Climate Emergency Resolution in 2023, Pasadena has taken initial steps toward its clean energy goals. But they said that mounting climate change “demands a more comprehensive approach that includes expanded rooftop solar, battery storage, demand reduction technology and programs ensuring affordable clean energy access for all residents.”

Advocates will hold a vigil commemorating the two-year anniversary of the city’s resolution from 6 to 8 p.m. outside City Hall today.